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BEIJING-President Hu Jintao said China would stand by pledges made when it was awarded the Olympics as Games officials deflected fire over Internet censorship on Friday by lifting restrictions.Hu told reporters the Games, one week away, would have an enduring benefit for China and leave a positive "spiritual legacy"."The Chinese government and the Chinese people have been working in real earnest to honor the commitments made to the international community," the normally media-shy Hu, who doubles as Communist Party chief, said.China and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are under fire from critics who say neither has lived up to pledges the country made to improve its rights record and lift Internet censorship for the Olympics.IOC press chief Kevan Gosper said this week that some IOC officials cut a deal to let China block sensitive websites to the media, despite repeated promises of a free Internet. On Friday officials said there would be unrestricted access."The issue has been solved," IOC vice-president Gunilla Lindberg told Reuters."The IOC Coordination Commission and BOCOG met last night and agreed," she said, referring to Beijing's Olympic organizers. "Internet use will be just like in any Olympics."To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah...
